Western Trip 2008
walking to the Gateway Arch
St. Louis; waterfront park with a walkway of trees. western trip 1.JPG 2008-06-09
Gateway arch
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Gateway arch
Looking out the windows at the top of the arch. western trip 3.JPG 2008-06-09
Gateway arch
In the viewing area at the top. western trip 5.JPG 2008-06-10
Gateway arch
Riding down in the tiny 5-seat elevator. western trip 5a.JPG 2008-06-09
Gateway arch
Artsy shot, taken right about noon. western trip 5b.JPG 2008-06-09
Kansas
A representative photo of a lot of flat and/or rolling prairie we covered between home and the Rockies. You can see part
Salina, KS
Salina has a wonderful museum of prairie life and the history of the town, including this full-scale model of a sod hous
Goodland, KS
Playing cards in Kansas while the wind blew endlessly outside. western trip 8.JPG 2008-06-11
Lyons, CO
Stopped for lunch at Oskar Blues Brewery and Restaurant in Lyons, about 20 miles from Estes Park. Downstairs in the bar
Estes Park, CO
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Estes Park, CO
Holiday Inn Express: 4 pillows on each bed plus a Pillow Menu you could choose from if you wanted something firmer or so
Rocky Mountains
One of many beautiful streams through the park. western trip 12.JPG 2008-06-11
Rocky Mountains
We have soooo many gorgeous pictures of mountains... This one is representative. western trip 13.JPG 2008-06-11
Rocky Mountains: Bear Lake
Start of the trail around Bear Lake. It was incredibly windy and very cold. Much more snow remaining than we expected. w
Rocky Mountains: Bear Lake
Freezing on the path. We almost turned back but were glad we didn't, because the wind calmed down soon after. western tr
Rocky Mountains: Bear Lake
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Rocky Mountains: Bear Lake
Lots o' snow! western trip 17.JPG 2008-06-12
Rocky Mountains: Bear Lake
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Rocky Mountains: Bear Lake
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Rocky Mountains
One of several species of lovely birds we saw. This type was also very noisy. western trip 20.JPG 2008-06-11
Estes Park elk
Back in town, we were driving past the park, and I thought they had statues of elk. No -- they were alive: 3 adults and
Estes Park elk
Just as we pulled into a parking spot to take pictures, a police officer on a Segway rolled into the park to herd them a
Estes Park elk
During the herding process the elk went by us, no more than 5 feet away. western trip 23.JPG 2008-06-12
Estes Park elk
The Segway cop chased them down the street to the edge of town. western trip 24.JPG 2008-06-12
Estes Park
We had dinner at a place with good pizza and sandwiches, plus pool and pinball. western trip 24a.JPG 2008-06-12
Rocky Mountains
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Rocky Mountains
Periodically we'd come to a place with a lot of cars parked, and we'd know there was a large animal nearby. This was the
Rocky Mountains
Both kids drew some lovely pictures of mountains. western trip 26a.JPG 2008-06-13
Rocky Mountains
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Rocky Mountains
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Rocky Mountains
"Me and the Moose"? "The Moose and I"? western trip 28.JPG 2008-06-13
Rocky Mountains
A gorgeous overlook where lots of people were busy feeding the chipmunks and birds, despite all the signs asking them no
Rocky Mountains
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Rocky Mountains
At the Alpine Visitor Center about half way through the park. Throughout much of the high part of the park, the snow was
Rocky Mountains
Close to the beginning of the Colorado River. We saw it at its beginning, at its middle, and far away in the Grand Canyo
Rocky Mountains
An overfed chipmunk. western trip 33.JPG 2008-06-12
Rocky Mountains
Cabin left from a dude ranch that became part of the park. The family's wife cooked for tourists in the Mama cabin. west
Rocky Mountains
We didn't expect to see any moose but ended up seeing several. They're huge! western trip 35.JPG 2008-06-12
Colorado National Monument
This is a national park just east of Colorado's border with Utah. We took the 30-mile drive through the park and saw ama
Colorado National Monument
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Colorado National Monument
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Colorado National Monument
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Colorado National Monument
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Colorado National Monument
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Colorado National Monument
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Colorado National Monument
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Colorado National Monument
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Colorado National Monument
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Colorado National Monument
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Colorado National Monument
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Utah desert
We hadn't seen civilization for about 60 miles and all really needed a bathroom. The first tiny town had this gas statio
Utah near Capitol Reef
Down a steep, sandy path was this large waterfall and shallow stream full of colorful rocks. Several families had come j
Utah near Capitol Reef
Looking for stones near the waterfall, and cooling our feet. western trip 50.JPG 2008-06-15
Utah near Capitol Reef
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Capitol Reef National Monument
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Torrey, UT
A lovely place to eat dinner: on a patio of a tiny restaurant near a tiny Utah town. The owner's friendly dog kept an ey
Torrey, UT
Hummingbirds visited the dinner patio. western trip 54.JPG 2008-06-15
Anasazi ruins
On Hwy. 12, a scenic route through Utah's many types of scenery and ecosystems. western trip 55.JPG 2008-06-16
Bryce Canyon: Tropic Ditch
Utah. Incredible, indescribable orange-red stone formations. This was one of our favorite stops on the whole trip: a cou
Bryce Canyon: Tropic Ditch
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Bryce Canyon: Tropic Ditch
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Bryce Canyon: Tropic Ditch
At the top of the waterfall. western trip 59.JPG 2008-06-15
Bryce Canyon: Tropic Ditch
Stream leading to the waterfall. western trip 60.JPG 2008-06-15
Bryce Canyon: Tropic Ditch
Doug and Will at the top of a very high, steep path to the rocks. western trip 61.JPG 2008-06-15
Bryce Canyon: Tropic Ditch
Doug and Will part way down the hill. western trip 62.JPG 2008-06-15
Bryce Canyon: Tropic Ditch
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Bryce Canyon National Park
Colors and formations like I've never imagined existed. western trip 64.JPG 2008-06-15
Bryce Canyon
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Bryce Canyon
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Bryce Canyon
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Colorado River near Navajo Bridge
I asked why the water is this intense color, and apparently it's all the color of the plants growing beneath the surface
Navajo Bridge
For many years the only way to cross the Colorado was at a single ferry. The government built a bridge in the 1930s: the
Navajo Bridge
A lady and her iguana. She takes it with her everywhere; the back seat of her car is iguana-ized with blankets, foot, an
Grand Canyon
western trip 71.JPG 2008-06-17
Grand Canyon: watch tower
Built in the 1930s to resemble similar towers built by native tribes. western trip 72.JPG 2008-06-17
Grand Canyon: watch tower
Handmade furniture on the second level of the tower. western trip 73.JPG 2008-06-17
Grand Canyon: watch tower
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Grand Canyon: watch tower
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Grand Canyon: mules
We have, no kidding, about 50 pictures of mules that we took at their corral our first evening there. They're big, beaut
Grand Canyon: mules
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Grand Canyon: mule deer
We saw lots of mule deer, so-called due to their large, mule-like ears. western trip 78.JPG 2008-06-17
Grand Canyon flight
We did a one-day whirlwind tour (booked through GrandCanyon.com) that included a flight over the Grand Canyon and Marble
Grand Canyon flight
Every seat had a panoramic view. Narration was provided via headset, which blocked a lot of the engine noise. western tr
Grand Canyon flight
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Grand Canyon flight
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Grand Canyon flight
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Grand Canyon flight
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Antelope Canyon: jeep ride
We got to Antelope Canyon via Jeep-truck. It was much like a Disney ride: 5 miles of highway and 3 miles of 4-wheel-driv
Antelope Canyon: jeep ride
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Antelope Canyon
Our family and the other family in our Jeep. western trip 81c.JPG 2008-06-18
Antelope Canyon
On our bedroom wall, we have 3 photographs taken by professional photographers at Antelope Canyon. And now we have hundr
Antelope Canyon
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Antelope Canyon
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Antelope Canyon
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Antelope Canyon
The far end of the canyon. western trip 85a.JPG 2008-06-17
Glen Canyon raft trip
We loaded into rafts at the base of Glen Canyon dam, which forms Lake Powell. Getting there required a bus trip through
Glen Canyon raft trip
Our raft guide: a college student who does this as her summer job. western trip 87.JPG 2008-06-18
Glen Canyon raft trip
Glen Canyon dam. It's as tall as Hoover dam but only a third as wide. western trip 88.JPG 2008-06-17
Glen Canyon raft trip
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Glen Canyon raft trip
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Glen Canyon raft trip
The lunch boat. We were on the rafts about 3 hours, with two stops: one to use the $50,000 composting port-a-potties tha
Glen Canyon raft trip
The water is COLD -- as in, your feet get numb after about 10 seconds. And yet some people were swimming. Brrrrrr. weste
Montezuma's Castle, AZ
Anasazi ruins near Sedona. The Spaniards didn't think the natives could have built anything so advanced, so they assumed
Sliding Rock Park, AZ
A wonderful state park near Sedona. This long stretch of river is perfect for swimming, wading, and inner-tubing, surrou
Holbrook, AZ
On Route 66 (obviously). This is one wall of Joe and Aggie's restaurant, which gets great reviews from RoadFood.com and
Holbrook, AZ
In the summer, Monday through Friday evenings, Native American kids ages 2-18 dance in the town square, accompanied by m
Holbrook, AZ: wigwams
Have you slept in a wigwam lately? We have! This motel was the basis for the Kozy Kones motel in the movie "Cars." weste
Holbrook, AZ: wigwams
Classic cars are parked all over the lot. western trip 98.JPG 2008-06-20
Holbrook, AZ: wigwams
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Holbrook, AZ: wigwams
The rooms are small and basic, but clean, comfy, and fun! western trip 100.JPG 2008-06-19
Petrified Forest, AZ
The visitor's center for the Petrified Forest had several complete huge reptile skeletons plus this 4-foot skull, all an
Petrified Forest, AZ
The multitude of colors in the petrified wood is amazing -- every possible shade of quartz and other minerals. western t
Petrified Forest, AZ
This guy hopped up on a log and posed for everyone. western trip 103.JPG 2008-06-19
Petrified Forest, AZ
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Petrified Forest, AZ
Will taking a picture. western trip 105.JPG 2008-06-20
Petrified Forest, AZ
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Montezuma's Well
Anasazi ruins above Montezuma's Well, a sinkhole filled by an underground stream. Apparently lots of leeches live on the
Montezuma's Well
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New Mexico
Rest area sign warning of poisonous beasties. western trip 109.JPG 2008-06-19
New Mexico petroglyphs
We saw petroglyphs at several spots. Amazing to think someone carved them into the rock a thousand years ago. western tr
Albuquerque, NM
Outside the Bottger Mansion bed and breakfast, where we stayed two nights. It's located on the edge of Old Town Albuquer
Albuquerque: Rattlesnake Museum
The Rattlesnake Museum was less than a block from our B&B. The owner goes on rescue missions for reptiles, and he has co
Albuquerque, NM
Breakfast at the B&B, served on the patio outside. western trip 113.JPG 2008-06-21
Albuquerque, NM
Sopapillas and honey for dessert with every meal! western trip 114.JPG 2008-06-21
Albuquerque Aquarium
A lovely, small aquarium. western trip 115.JPG 2008-06-21
Albuquerque Aquarium
The jellyfish displays were beautiful. western trip 116.JPG 2008-06-21
Albuquerque Botanical Gardens
Located next to the aquarium. western trip 117.JPG 2008-06-21
Albuquerque Botanical Gardens
The Children's Fantasy Garden: we all loved it! Beautiful plants, and lots of giant things, making us feel like we were
Albuquerque Botanical Gardens
Exiting a maze. western trip 119.JPG 2008-06-21
Albuquerque Botanical Gardens
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Albuquerque Botanical Gardens
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Albuquerque Botanical Gardens
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Albuquerque
Route 66 Diner. We took a pleasant drive through town to this original diner (now much enlarged), where they have great
Albuquerque
Bottger Mansion at night. western trip 124.JPG 2008-06-21
McLean, TX
We weren't in Texas for long. On the way through, we stayed at another Route 66 motel: the Cactus Inn. Scrupulously clea
McLean, TX
Sign inside the door of the Cactus Inn. western trip 145.JPG 2008-06-22
McLean, TX
They also had several huge cactus plants decorated with lots of cowboy boots. Odd, yet suitable. western trip 146.JPG 20
Mansfield, MO
Laura Ingalls Wilder's home for many years, and where she wrote the "Little House" series of books. I've always wanted t
Mansfield, MO
On Laura's porch. western trip 148.JPG 2008-06-24
St. Louis, MO
One more Route 66 stop, at Ted Drewe's Frozen Custard. YUM. (We love ice cream!) western trip 149.JPG 2008-06-24
St. Louis, MO
This was the biggest crowd we encountered the entire trip: outside Ted Drewes. western trip 150.JPG 2008-06-24
Prom 2008
looking pretty, 2
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looking pretty
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a sweet kiss
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pinning on his rose
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a little help from Chloe's dad
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putting on the wrist corsage, 2
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putting on the wrist corsage
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young love...
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lovely couple with flowers
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ready to leave
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dinner group
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